House and Home

Frozen Water Pipes

Frozen water pipes flood homes of a quarter million families nationwide each winter. This damage is largely preventable by homeowners. Before winter hits, disconnect garden hoses and, if possible, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside your home. When temperatures do begin to plummet, a trickle of hot and cold water might be all it takes to keep your pipes from freezing. Let warm water drip overnight, preferable from a faucet on an outside wall, and keep your thermostat set at the same temperature both day and night.

If you are a Snowbird, it is recommended that you turn the water off inside your home when you leave town. In addition, set the thermostat in your house to no lower than 55 degrees. Ask a friend or neighbor to check your house daily to make sure it is warm enough to prevent freezing.

If your pipes do freeze, never try to thaw them with a torch or other open flame. Doing so is a fire hazard. You can use a hair dryer, or turn up the heat in your basement to gradually warm the pipes. If your pipes have already burst turn off the water at the main shutoff valve in the house, and contact a plumber immediately.

ICC Offers Consumers Winter Energy Savings Tips

Springfield, IL – The war on Ukraine and supply chain constraints are key drivers of rising energy costs globally and here in Illinois. To keep your home warm this winter and save money by reducing energy costs, the Illinois Commerce Commission is offering a few tips to help homeowners prepare for freezing temperatures. –Install smart thermostats that automatically adjust heating and cooling temperature settings. –Check with your utility company about enrolling in time-based electricity rates programs to reduce energy usage during peak hours or to learn about energy efficiency services they may offer. –Set your thermostat at 68 degrees while you are awake and home, lower at night and when you are away.

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–Water heating accounts for 14-18% of homeowner’s utility bill. Turn down your water heater to 120 degrees to save money. –Cover the inside of drafty windows with heavy plastic and seal tightly to the frame to avoid air infiltration. Check exterior door and window frames for leaks, use caulk or weather stripping to seal. Use insulated curtains, shades, or other energy-efficient window treatments. –Schedule a maintenance service call for your heating system. Be sure to change filters on furnace and heat pumps at least once a month. For wood and pellet-burning heaters, clean the flue vent regularly, and clean the interior of appliances with a wire brush. –If you have an older water heater tank, consider adding an insulated jacket or blanket. Insulating a water tank can save between 7 – 16% in water heating costs. –On sunny days, allow natural light to filter in south-facing windows to help warm your home. Reverse the direction of ceiling fan blades to circulate warm air. –If you have a fireplace, keep the damper closed unless a fire is burning. If using the fireplace, close off the room, and if possible, open a nearby window slightly, and lower your thermostat setting between 50-55 degrees. –Lower holiday decorating costs by using LED holiday light strings.

If you are interested in learning more about ways to save, visit the U.S. Department of Energy website at: energy.gov/energysaver/energy-saver. If you are struggling to afford your utility bill, the application window for enrolling in the LowIncome Home Energy Assistance Program is now open until May 31, 2023, or until funding is exhausted.

Visit the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunities (DCEO) website to learn more about LIHEAP and the Community Services Block Grant program to help eligible Illinoisans cover costs related to utility bills. Click here for more information about how to apply for LIHEAP.

Additionally, the ICC has a dedicated Utility Assistance webpage that includes information about winter disconnection prohibition rules in Illinois, bill payment assistance programs, and energy efficiency savings as well as contact information for the state’s largest-regulated utilities and the utility assistance programs they offer customers.

GOING A LITTLE TOO FAR?

Police in Alabama arrested, handcuffed, and jailed an 82-year-old grandmother over an unpaid trash-collection bill of $77.80. Martha Menefield says officers told her not to cry as they put her in handcuffs. “I’m just happy my grandkids weren’t here to see that,” she said. Police chief Mike Reynolds said that while officers can use “discretionary judgment on certain matters,” enforcement of arrest warrants “is not one of them.”

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